IAS Preparation: Questions for Prelims 29 January to 2 February 2018

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Feb 5, 2018 13:04 IST

IAS Preparation: Questions for Prelims 29 January to 2 February 2018

To clear the IAS Exam, continuous efforts to master the current affairs component are a must. To answer current affairs based questions in prelims, one should not only have the preliminary information about the current events, but also the clarity about the issues and concepts involved.

To cater to this need of IAS Exam aspirants, Jagran Josh is providing important current affairs Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) on a weekly basis. The questions cover important current affairs events in the fields of economy, national, India-World relations, science and technology, environment, etc. Answers along with detailed explanations to the questions will help the aspirants in answering further questions on the given topic in all the phases of the exam – Preliminary, Mains written and Personality Test.

The IAS weekly current affairs quizzes for the period from 29 January to 2 February 2018 are given below.

1. Recently, the archaeologists have discovered ancient crayon used by our ancestors nearly 10,000 years ago to apply colour to animal skins for artwork in which of the following countries?a. Indiab. Englandc. Egyptd. USA

Answer: b

Explanation:

Archaeologists have discovered ancient crayon used by our ancestors nearly 10,000 years ago to apply colour to animal skins for artwork. Having discovered near Star Carr (what was once Lake Flixton now blanketed in peat), in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, the crayon is made of a red mineral pigment called ochre. It measures 22 millimetres (0.87 inches) long and 7 millimetres (0.28 inches) wide.

Lake Flixton in England is known to have filled up with artefacts from the Mesolithic period or Middle Stone Age (8000 to 2700 BC). Alongside the "crayon", another ochre pebble was also discovered at another site on the opposite side of the lake. According to researchers (The University of York researchers, who worked in collaboration with the Universities of Chester and Manchester), pre-historic hunter-gatherers across the world used to collect ochre and processed it in different ways during the Middle Stone Age.

2. Recently, on the eve of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit (AICS) to celebrate 25 years of India-ASEAN partnership, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had separate bilateral meetings with the leaders of Myanmar, Vietnam and Philippines. Consider the following statements regarding this:1. The leaders of India and the Philippines have agreed on India's Act East Policy and the Philippines' Build-Build-Build Programme, there are several areas for cooperation between private sectors of the two countries and also witnessed the exchange of an MOU between Invest India and Board of Investments of the Philippines.2. India and Vietnam have signed two agreements i.e. on cooperation in the fields of Information & Broadcasting and on the establishment of tracking and data reception station and data processing facility in Vietnam under the ASEAN-India Space Cooperation would give a further boost to India-Vietnam relations.3. The three leaders of the countries Myanmar, Vietnam and Philippines were the chief guests at the 69th Republic Day celebrations on 26th January 2018.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?a. 2 onlyb. 1 and 2c. 2 and 3d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer. d

Explanation:

On the eve of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit (AICS) to celebrate 25 years of India-ASEAN partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had separate bilateral meetings with Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor of Myanmar, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam and Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Philippines on 25 January 2018. Prime Minister welcomed the three leaders to India for participation in the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and also for accepting the invitation to be Chief Guests at the Republic Day celebrations on 26th January 2018.

In the meeting with Prime Minister Phuc, the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the growth of bilateral relations between the two countries within the framework of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including in the fields of maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, defence, oil and gas, trade and investment. The leaders agreed that The two agreements signed during this visit viz., on cooperation in the fields of Information & Broadcasting and on the establishment of tracking and data reception station and data processing facility in Vietnam under the ASEAN-India Space Cooperation would give a further boost to India-Vietnam relations. They expressed satisfaction at operationalisation of the Line of Credit of US $ 100 million under which L&T has been awarded a contract for the manufacture of the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). They decided that the other Line of Credit of US $ 500 million be operationalised soon.

During the meeting with President Duterte, the two leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral relations and in the global and regional situation since their meeting in Manila in November 2017. It was agreed to give further momentum to cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of infrastructure development. They agreed that under India's Act East Policy and the Philippines' Build-Build-Build Programme, there are several areas for cooperation between private sectors of the two countries. The leaders also witnessed the exchange of an MOU between Invest India and Board of Investments of the Philippines.

3. A rare lunar trilogy to occur on 31 January 2018 which will witness the Supermoon, Blue moon, lunar eclipse. Consider the following statements regarding this:1. This lunar trilogy event is significant since it is happening after 150 years and this celestial event last took place in 1866.2. When the moon is closest to the earth, which is also known as its perigee point, it is called a lunar eclipse.3. When the moon comes in the shadow of the Earth it is called the Supermoon.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?a. 1 onlyb. 1 and 2c. 2 and 3d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: a

Explanation:

A rare trilogy which can be witnessed as a Supermoon, Blue moon and a lunar eclipse will occur simultaneously on 31 January 2018. This peculiar lunar event is significant since it is happening after 150 years. Such a celestial event last took place in 1866.

According to a previous report, the moon rotates in an elliptical orbit around the Earth. When it comes partially in the shadow of the Earth, it is known as the penumbral phase. Soon when it comes complete in the shadow of the Earth it is known as the umbral phase.

When the moon comes in the shadow of the Earth it is called a lunar eclipse.

This is followed by the Supermoon. When the moon is closest to the earth, which is also known as its perigee point, it is called the Supermoon.Lastly, when the sun, moon, and the earth come in a straight line, it is known as the full moon. Now, when two full moons happen in a gap of 29.5 days, that is, in one month, it is known as Blue Moon.

4. According to a research paper published in the Journal of Cancer Epidemiology, the BRICS nations are losing billions of dollars in productivity due to cancer. Consider the following statements regarding this:1. India recorded a total productivity loss of $6.7 billion in 2012 due to cancer, representing 0.36% of the GDP.2. In India and China, the lost productivity costs per leukaemia death are relatively high (5 per cent of the total), perhaps because of lack of access to advanced treatment.

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are losing billions of dollars in productivity due to cancer, according to a research paper published in the Journal of Cancer Epidemiology. India ranks second in such losses.

The emerging economies collectively lost nearly $46.3 billion in 2012 on account of cancer-related deaths that could have been prevented with proper treatment and adequate infrastructure, said the paper.

India recorded a total productivity loss of $6.7 billion in 2012 due to cancer, representing 0.36% of the GDP. This figure is second only to South Africa which recorded $1.9 billion, comprising 0.49% of its GDP.

While the cost per death of productivity lost in India was under $20,000, the lowest among the BRICS countries, the highest productivity losses – $0.74 billion – because of the lip and oral cancers is alarming. China too recorded a loss of nearly $8 billion in productivity annually due to tobacco smoking.

5. Consider the following statements regarding the Resolute Support Mission:

1. It is a NATO-led train, advice and assist mission consisting of over 13,000 troops in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which began on January 1, 2015.2. It is a follow-on mission to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) which was completed on December 28, 2014.3. The objective of the mission is to provide training, advice and assistance for Afghan security forces and institutions in their conflict with extremist groups such as the Taliban, the Haqqani network, and ISIS-K.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?a. 1 onlyb. 1 and 2c. 2 and 3d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d

Explanation:

Resolute Support Mission or Operation Resolute Support is a NATO-led train, advice and assist mission consisting of over 13,000 troops in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which began on January 1, 2015. It is a follow-on mission to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) which was completed on December 28, 2014. Its current commander is U.S. Army General John W. Nicholson Jr. who replaced U.S. Army General John F. Campbell on 2 March 2016.

The objective of the mission is to provide training, advice and assistance for Afghan security forces and institutions in their conflict with extremist groups such as the Taliban, the Haqqani network, and ISIS-K. The Resolute Support Mission envisages the deployment of approximately 12,000 personnel from NATO and partner nations in Afghanistan with the central hub at Kabul and Bagram Airfield supporting four spokes.

6. Consider the following statements related to the Stree Swabhiman Initiative that was launched recently.1) It was launched by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.2) It seeks to impart computer literacy to working women.

7. It is in this State, India and Vietnam began their first joint military exercise ‘VINBAX’ recently.

a) Rajasthanb) Madhya Pradeshc) Himachal Pradeshd) Jammu and Kashmir

Answer. b

Explanation:

Seeking to boost their defence ties, India and Vietnam commenced the first India Vietnam Bilateral Military Exercise 2018 (VINBAX-2018) at Grenadiers Regimental Centre in Jabalpur on 29 January 2018. The aim of VINBAX-2018 is to train the Vietnam delegation for participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations under the United Nations Flag. The exercise with the participation of 15 army officers each from Vietnam and the India will be held till 3 February 2018.

The exercise has been conducted in the backdrop of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to India last week to participate in the India- ASEAN Commemorative Summit and attend India’s Republic Day celebrations. The issue of bolstering defence and security cooperation figured prominently during the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Vietnamese PM.

Defence ties between India and Vietnam have been on an upswing with special emphasis on cooperation in the maritime domain. India and Vietnam had signed a protocol on defence cooperation in 1994. The partnership was later elevated to the strategic level in 2007 and the two nations signed a pact on boosting bilateral defence cooperation in 2009. The strategic partnership was then elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2016.

8. As per the Economic Survey 2017-18, by what percent, India’s GDP will grow in the FY 2017-18?a) 5.75%b) 6.75%c) 7.75%d) 8.75%

Answer. b

Explanation:

The Economic Survey 2017-18 was tabled in the Parliament on January 29, 2018 by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The survey noted that as a result of the transformational Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (IBC) and recapitalisation package to strengthen the balance sheets of public sector banks, the economy accelerated in the second half of 2017.

These measures are expected to boost the real GDP growth to 6.75 per cent in the FY 2017-18 and to 7-7.5 per cent in the FY 2018-19, re-instating India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

Recently, China has said that they are ready to discuss India’s concerns about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through areas claimed by India.The reaction comes soon after the Indian ambassador in Beijing, Gautam Bambawale, told a Beijing-based newspaper that India has serious problems with CPEC which should be discussed and not be pushed "under the carpet". The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through Indian-claimed territory and hence violates Indian territorial integrity. This is a major problem for India.

10. As per the Economic Survey 2017-18, India’s commitment to climate change reflected in support of sustainable development goals. Consider the following statements regarding this:

1. The recent Economic Survey reveals that access to sustainable, modern and affordable energy is the basis of achieving Sustainable Development Goals.2. Outlining India’s commitment to address Climate Change, the Survey mentions establishment of 8 Global Technology Watch Groups, extending Climate Change Action Programme launched in 2014 for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20 with a budget outlay of Rs. 132.4 crore.

The Chapter on Sustainable Development, Energy and Climate Change in the Economic Survey 2017-18 notes India’s commitment to environment and climate change that is reflected in the number of actions in supporting sustainable development goals while retaining reliance on cleaner energy, including cleaner, greener coal. It states that India has strengthened its response to the threat of climate change in accordance with the principles of equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and in the light of national circumstances with the “Paris Pledge” to reduce the emission intensity of GDP by 33-35 percent over 2005 levels by the year 2030.

Outlining India’s commitment to address Climate Change, the Survey mentions establishment of 8 Global Technology Watch Groups, extending Climate Change Action Programme launched in 2014 for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20 with a budget outlay of Rs. 132.4 crore and continuation of National Adaption Fund on Climate Change till 31st March 2020 with financial implication of Rs. 364 crore.

11. Recently, the Indian Navy has launched the third Scorpene class submarine Karanj. Consider the following statements regarding this:1. The Scorpene class submarines are being built in collaboration with French shipbuilding major Naval Group (formerly DCNS).2. Total six submarines are going to be built at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).

The Indian Navy on 31 January 2018 launched the third Scorpene class submarine Karanj. The submarine is launched by Reena Lanba, wife of Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba. The submarine is constructed by shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL). Total six submarines are going to be built at the MDL.

The submarines are being built in collaboration with French shipbuilding major Naval Group (formerly DCNS). Prime Minister Narendra Modi has last month commissioned the first of the six Scorpene-class submarines Kalvari into the Indian Navy and said its induction was a big step in the country’s defence preparedness.

IAS Topper 2016 Anuj Malik Rank 16 - IAS Prelims strategy

12. The Pampadum Shola National Park is known for the safe haven of rare and most elusive Nilgiri Marten located in which of the following States of India?

a. Tamil Nadub. Keralac. Andhra Pradeshd. Gujarat

Answer: b

Explanation:

Pampadum Shola National Park, located on the southern portion of the Western Ghats is a safe haven for rare and most elusive Nilgiri Marten. The January 26 issue of the Journal of Threatened Taxa has carried findings of their research which involved 148 days of field study. They had 42 independent sightings of the elusive animals in this period. Endemic to the Western Ghats, Nilgiri Marten looks like a civet or a mongoose and it most prefers higher altitudes.

With the 42 independent sightings in Pampadum Shola, the researchers feel the area and its extended forest stretches in Kerala and Tamil Nadu constitute the largest haven of the elusive mustelids. The number is vital as the global population of the Nilgiri Marten is estimated below 1000. Though not many studies were undertaken on Nilgiri marten, it found a place in schedule 2 of part 2 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

13. Three new ‘super-earths’ discovered recently. Consider the following statements regarding this:

1. The Kepler Space Telescope has identified three super-earths orbiting a ‘cool dwarf star’ about 267 light years from the Earth.2. Super-earths have a mass lesser than the Earth, but are lighter than gas-filled planets like Neptune and Uranus.3. The new exo-planets orbit the star LP415-15 and are named LP415-17 b, LP415-17 c and LP415-17 d.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?a. 1 onlyb. 1 and 2c. 2 and 3d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: a

Explanation:

The Kepler Space Telescope has identified three super-earths orbiting a ‘cool dwarf star’ about 267 light years from the Earth. Super-earths have a mass higher than the Earth, but are lighter than gas-filled planets like Neptune and Uranus. They are good candidates for having terrestrial surfaces and oceans that may support life. There are about 55 confirmed super-earths till date.

The new exo-planets orbit the star LP415-15 and are named LP415-17 b, LP415-17 c and LP415-17 d. They weigh about four, six and five times (respectively) more than the Earth. The super-earths b, c and d have a radius of about 1.8, 2.6 and 1.9 times the Earth radii and take about six, 13 and 40 days respectively to orbit their host star.

14. It is with this multilateral agency, India recently signed a USD 250 million agreement to improve rural connectivity.a. World Bank Groupb. Asian Development Bankc. Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bankd. New Development Bank

Answer. b

Explanation:

India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on January 30, 2018, signed a USD 250 million agreement to construct 6,254 kilometres all-weather rural roads in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal. The funds will be spent under the Prime Minister’s Rural Roads Programme (PMGSY).

The loan is the first tranche of the $500 million Second Rural Connectivity Investment Program for India, which was approved by the ADB Board in December 2017.The program is aimed at improving rural connectivity, facilitating safer and more efficient access to livelihood and socio-economic opportunities for rural communities through improvements to about 12,000 kilometres Rural Roads across the 5 States.

The investment program builds on the USD 800 million ADB-financed first Rural Connectivity Investment Program that added about 9,000 kilometres of all-weather rural roads in the same States.

About PMGSY

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was launched by the Union Government to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations as part of a poverty reduction strategy. It was launched on December 25, 2000.Its primary objective is to provide all-weather road connectivity to every rural habitation with a minimum population of 500 in plain areas and a minimum population of 250 in hill states.

15. Which of the following union ministries launched the Government e Marketplace (GeM) 3.0 recently:a. Ministry of Financeb. Ministry of Commerce and Industryc. Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprisesd. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

Answer. b

Explanation:The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 30 June 2017 launched the Government e Marketplace (GeM) 3.0. The GeM 2.0 was launched as a pilot in August 2016 and its success led to this advanced version. The GeM 3.0 offers standardised and enriched catalogue management, powerful search engine, real-time price comparison, demand aggregation, user rating, advanced Management Information Systems (MIS) and analytics and more.

The GeM, which was launched in August 2016, aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement. The GeM is a one-stop platform for procurement of common use goods and services required by various government departments, organizations and public sector undertakings (PSUs). It provides the tools of e-bidding, reverses e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate the government users achieve the best value for their money.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely on February 1, 2018 presented the Budget 2018-19 to the Lok Sabha. For the FY 2018-19, he projected that the fiscal deficit will be 3.3%. For the FY 2017-18, the estimated fiscal deficit was 3.2%, while the revised estimate is 3.5%.

Important budget-related concepts are given below.

1.

Revenue Receipts

Tax-Revenue + Non-Tax Revenue

2.

Capital Receipts

Recovered Loans + Borrowings & other liabilities + Other Receipts

3.

Total Receipts

Revenue Receipts + Capital Receipts

4.

Total Expenditure

Revenue Exp. + Capital Exp. + Interest Payments + Grants in Aid

5.

Revenue Deficit

Revenue Expenditure – Revenue Receipts

6.

Effective Revenue Deficit

Revenue Deficit – Grants in Aid

7.

Fiscal Deficit

Total Expenditure – (Total Receipts – Borrowings and other liabilities)

8.

Primary Deficit

Fiscal Deficit – Interest Payments

17. Which of the following documents were laid before both houses of the Parliament by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley along with the Budget 2018-19?1) Medium-term Fiscal Policy Statement2) Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement3) Macro-economic Framework Statement4) Medium-term Expenditure Framework Statement

Select the correct code:a) 1 and 2 onlyb) 3 and 4 onlyc) 1, 2 and 3 onlyd) All of them

Answer. c

Explanation:

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely on February 1, 2018 laid the Annual Finance Statement or Budget for the FY 2018-19 before both the houses of the Parliament. Along with the budget, he laid three fiscal policy statements, namely, Medium-term Fiscal Policy Statement, Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement and Macro-economic Framework Statement before both the houses of the Parliament. This was in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003 and the FRBM (Amendment) Act, 2012.

The Section 3 of the FRBM Act mandates the government to lay the Medium-term Expenditure Framework Statement before both houses of the Parliament immediately following the session of Parliament in which the other three policy statements were laid.

(I) Medium-term Fiscal Policy Statement

It shall set forth a three-year rolling target for prescribed fiscal indicators with specification of underlying assumptions. The statement shall include an assessment of sustainability relating to the balance between revenue receipts and revenue expenditures and the use of capital receipts including market borrowings for generating productive assets.

(II) Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement

It contains four elements. They are given below.

i. The policies of the Union Government for the ensuing financial year relating to taxation, expenditure, market borrowings and other liabilities, lending and investments, pricing of administered goods and services, securities and description of other activities such as underwriting and guarantees which have potential budgetary implications.

ii. The strategic priorities of the Central Government for the ensuing financial year in the fiscal area

iii. The key fiscal measures and rationale for any major deviation in fiscal measures pertaining to taxation, subsidy, expenditure, administered pricing and borrowings.

iv. An evaluation as to how the current policies of the Central Government are in conformity with the fiscal management principles set out in section 4 and the objectives set out in the Medium-term Fiscal Policy Statement.

(III) Macro-economic Framework Statement

It shall contain an assessment of the growth prospects of the economy with specification of underlying assumptions. Further, the statement shall contain an assessment relating to -

i. The growth in the gross domestic product

ii. The fiscal balance of the Union Government as reflected in the revenue balance and gross fiscal balance

iii. The external sector balance of the economy as reflected in the current account balance of the balance of payments.

(IV) Medium-term Expenditure Framework Statement

It shall set forth a three-year rolling target for prescribed expenditure indicators with specification of underlying assumptions and risk involved. The statement contains the following three elements.

i. The expenditure commitment of major policy changes involving new service, new instruments of service, new schemes and programmes.

ii. The explicit contingent liabilities, which are in the form of stipulated annuity payments over a multi-year time-frame.

On January 31, 2018 the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released the Global Democracy Index 2018. In the annual index, India slipped to 42nd rank from the 32nd rank in the 2017 index. As a result, India remains classified as a "flawed democracy". Along with India, the USA (ranked 21), Japan, Italy, France, Israel, Singapore, and Hong Kong have also been categorized as ‘flawed democracies'.

Out of the 165 countries and territories surveyed, Norway was adjudged as the ‘best democracy’ in the world. The ranking was based on five parameters, namely, electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, functioning of government, political participation and political culture.

On the basis of performance, the index ranked countries into four broad categories -- full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime and authoritarian regime.

19. Consider the following statements related to the TEQIP-III programme that was in the news recently.1) It was launched by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).2) It seeks to improve quality of education in primary schools in rural areas.

The Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) was in the news January 2018 as 1225 highly qualified graduates from premier institutions like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) were recruited to teach in Engineering Colleges in States/UTs like Andaman & Nicobar, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, etc.

About TEQIP

The Union Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) started the TEQIP for improving quality of education in engineering colleges in backward areas. Under this project, all the Government engineering colleges are selected for direct intervention, and all private engineering colleges are selected for indirect intervention. Under the TEQIP-III, Rs. 2,300 crore will be spent in a 3-year period till 2020.

The measures under TEQIP are given below.

Institution-based measures: Accreditation of the courses through the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), governance reforms, improving the processes, digital initiatives, securing autonomy for the colleges.

Student-based measures: Improving the quality of teaching, teacher training, equipping the classrooms, revision of the syllabus, industry interaction, compulsory internships for students, training the students in industry-relevant skills, preparing them for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) exam, etc.

20. Recently, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that the eight core industries of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose by 4.0% in December 2017 as compared to the index of December 2016. Which of the following is/are part of ‘eight core industries’?1) Coal2) Fertilizers3) Cement4) Electricity5) Steel

Select the correct code:a) 1, 2 and 3b) 3, 4 and 5c) 1, 2, 3 and 4d) All of them

Answer. d

Explanation:

The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry on January 31, 2018 announced that the combined Index of Eight Core Industries stands at 129.1 in December 2017, which was 4.0 percent higher as compared to the index of December 2016. Its cumulative growth during April to December 2017 was 4.0 percent.

Eight core industries comprise the 40.27 percent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The eight core industries of IIP are coal, crude oil, natural gas, fertilizers, steel, cement, refinery products and electricity.

IIP measures the quantum of changes in the industrial production in an economy and captures the general level of industrial activity in the country. It is compiled and published every month by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. In May 2017, the base year of the IIP was revised from 2004-05 to 2011-12. The new base year was selected keeping in view the base year of other macroeconomic indicators, namely, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI).

21. Consider the following statements related to the Ashgabat Agreement in which India joined recently. 1) Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are the founding members of the agreement.2) Pakistan and Kazakhstan are already members of the agreement.

India on February 1, 2018 joined the Ashgabat Agreement. The agreement envisages the establishment of an international transport and transit corridor linking Central Asia to the Persian Gulf to significantly ramp up trade and investment.

The agreement was originally signed on April 25, 2011, among the four founding members - Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with an aim to set up a trade and transit corridor between them.

India’s accession to the agreement will come into force on February 3, 2018. India had deposited the Instrument of Accession with Turkmenistan in April 2016 after receiving approval from the Union Cabinet. This will would enable India to utilise the transportation and transit corridor to facilitate trade and commercial interaction with the Eurasian region. Further, this would synchronise with India’s efforts to implement the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) for enhanced connectivity.

22. In his FY 2018-19 budget speech, finance minister Arun Jaitley announced that a tunnel would be constructed through the Sela Pass. The pass is located in____

a) Arunachal Pradeshb) Jammu and Kashmirc) Sikkimd) Uttarakhand

Answer. a

Explanation:

To give a boost to defense preparedness in border areas, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 1, 2018 announced that a tunnel would be constructed through the Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh. He made the announcement while presenting the FY 2018-19 budget in the Lok Sabha.

The Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced while presenting the Union Budget 2018 that the government would be building a tunnel through the Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh.

The construction of the tunnel will ensure faster movement of troops in Tawang, a strategically- located town in Arunachal Pradesh bordering China. Prior to this, the government completed the construction of the Rohtang tunnel in an effort to provide all weather connectivity in the Ladakh region. Recently, the government has also initiated the construction of the Zozila Pass tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir.

Some of the other important passes in Arunachal Pradesh are Bomdila, Bum La, Tunga and Dihang.

23. Consider the following statements related to ‘SkyRev360’ that was in the news recently.a) It has been jointly developed by the Air Ports Authority of India (AAI) and International Air Transport Association (IATA).b) It seeks to make air transportation more faster, cleaner and secure.

In January 2018, the India and Laos signed a civil aviation cooperation agreement for providing SkyRev360 services. The agreement was signed between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Lao Air Traffic Management, Department of Civil Aviation.

Primarily, SkyRev360 automates data processing, helping air navigation service providers overcome strenuous manual processes which are prone to mistakes. It has been jointly developed by the Air Ports Authority of India (AAI) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) as part of the Make In India initiative. It was launched in February 2017.

Key features of SkyRev360

Data gathering and processing module: SkyRev360 can ensure the essential data for your invoices is always the latest and most complete.

Invoicing module: The system maintains all account attributes and allows for an extensive view of associated data, including aircraft specifications, flight movements, billing ledger records, etc.

Collection: All collections are managed by the IATA Enhancement & Financing Services (E&F) process, which offers efficiencies and automation to ANSPs and airlines by settling through IATA Settlement Systems.

Airline queries: The IATA team handles all queries and disputes related to billing and collection from your air operators.

24. Recently, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) recommended for the ‘impeachment’ of Justice Narayan Shukla of Allahabad High Court. Against this backdrop, consider the following statements.1) The removal procedure of judges of the supreme court and high courts from the office is the same under the Constitution of India.2) A judge of the supreme court or a high court is removed from office by an order of the President.3) The grounds for removal of judges from the office are not mentioned in the Constitution of India.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?a) 1 and 2 onlyb) 2 and 3 onlyc) 1 and 3 onlyd) 1, 2 and 3

Answer. a

Explanation:

In January 2018, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra recommended the impeachment of Justice Narayan Shukla of the Allahabad High Court, following an adverse report about him by an in-house panel set up by the CJI. In this regard, the CJI has a written letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It should be noted that the constitution mentions ‘proved misbehaviour’ or ‘incapacity’ as the grounds of removal of a judge.

Justice Narayan Shukla’s orders in the cases of blacklisted private medical colleges in Lucknow had come under the scanner of a supreme court bench head by the CJI. On 23 November 2017, the CJI, in a 14-page judgment, held that the Division Bench led by Justice Shukla had abandoned “the concept of judicial propriety” and transgressed judicial rules to “proceed on a path where it was not required to.”

The Removal procedure of a judge of the supreme court is governed primarily by the Art. 124 (4). The same procedure is also applicable to high court judges as mentioned under the 217(1)(b).

Art. 124 (4): A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members of that House present and voting has been presented to the President in the same session for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.

25. Consider the following statements related to ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’ that was in the news recently.a) In this farming method, chemical and organic fertilizers are equally used.b) In India, the farming method first evolved in Karanataka.

The ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’ (ZBNF) was in the news in January 2018 as the Government of Himachal Pradesh, launched a project to promote organic farming by using the ZBNF method. It has attained wide success in southern States in India, especially in Karnataka, where it first evolved.

Key features of Zero Budget Natural Farming

• The word ‘budget’ refers to credit and expenses, thus the phrase 'Zero Budget' means without using any credit, and without spending any money on purchased inputs. 'Natural farming' means farming with Nature and without chemicals.

• The ZBNF promises to end a reliance on loans and drastically cut production costs, ending the debt cycle for desperate farmers.

• The movement in Karnataka state was born out of collaboration between Mr Subhash Palekar, who put together the ZBNF practices, and the state farmers association Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS).

• It has four pillars. They are jeevamrutha (fermented microbial culture), beejamrutha (treatment used for seeds), acchadana (mulching) and whapasa (moisture).

• Other important principles of ZBNF are intercropping, contours and bunds, using local species of earthworms and cow dung.

• ZBNF works not just in agronomic terms, but also brings about a variety of social and economic benefits.

• As per the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a majority of respondents reported that by adopting ZBNF, over time, they saw improvements in yield, soil conservation, seed diversity, quality of produce, household food autonomy, income, and health.